Arrest warrants for PDRC leaders approved

May 15, 2014 1:00 am

THE CRIMINAL Court yesterday approved arrest warrants for 30 leaders and key members of the anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) on insurrection charges as requested by the Depart-ment of Special Investigation (DSI).

Figures named on the arrest warrants include Satit Wongnongtaey, Chumphon Junsai, Buddhipongse Punnakanta, Nataphol Teepsuwan and Akanat Promphan, as well as Phra Buddha Issara and Uthai Yodmanee.

The name of PDRC secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban, who already faces an insurrection charge, is not on the list.

The court rejected arrest warrants for a further 13 people put forward by the DSI in the same request. They are mostly former leaders of the now-defunct People's Alliance for Democracy, including Somsak Kosaisuk, Anchalee Paireerak and Suriyasai Katasila.

Explaining its decision not to approve these arrest warrants, the court said the individuals named were already facing other cases and were currently free on bail, therefore they were not likely to flee justice.

Tarit Pengdith, secretary of the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order, earlier said the CAPO had prepared teams to arrest the people on the list if the court approved the warrants. He stressed, however, that arrests must be done very carefully.